PROJECT DESCRIPTION :

The PhD student will develop a research agenda on the political economics of migration drawing implications for the integration of migrants in destination countries. European societies face increasing challenges in integrating diverse cultural values and norms, making immigration a central topic in political debates. Concerns over cultural differences between natives and immigrants influence public opinion and policy, often fueling populist sentiments. While research on migration and integration is extensive, evidence remains mixed on whether immigrants assimilate into host societies or retain their cultural traits. Some studies suggest immigrants influence institutions and norms in their new countries, while others highlight a gradual adoption of local values through economic and social integration. However, the factors shaping cultural assimilation and persistence remain insufficiently quantified. This project seeks to address this gap by examining how both origin and destination countries shape immigrants’ cultural preferences. An important focus will be on the labor market of the host country, particularly the role of skills—both in terms of availability and how they are valued by local employers. Despite the growing immigrant workforce in Europe, little is known about how firms perceive migrant skills compared to those of natives. Moreover, skill downgrading is a common challenge for migrants seeking employment. Beyond labor market integration, demographic and fertility-related factors are relevant too, particularly from a gender perspective. Also, different patterns can relate to the experience of voluntary versus forced migration. The analysis may leverage the use of large-scale European datasets, country-level datasets or experimental research based upon own original data.

SUPERVISION & RESEARCH TEAM:

The PhD student will be supervised by Simone Moriconi in collaboration with Riccardo Turati (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona). The student will also benefit from interactions with a a team specialists in the fields of labor economics, industrial relations, management and demography, which are part of the IFLAME Research Center and the “Economics and Financial Flows” axis of the LEM research unit.